Automobile storage construction



Jan. 27. 1925.

A. A. BLUE AUTOMOBILE STORAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 27. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 192

. "id/0A5) Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES ART HUR A. BLUE, OF SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE STORAGE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed July 6, 1923. Serial No. 649,842.

' To (all whom 2'25 may concern.

mobile Storage Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automobile storage and has invview to providemeans for loading, storing and removing a large number of machines, with a minimum space per machine and without loss of time or interference. 4

Generally stated, the invention provides one or a series of continuously connected and supported platforms in the manner of endless chain units, each platform providing for the housing of one or more machines. Each platform issupported at proper intervals for clearance across between opposite very strong substantial sprocket or other type of chains, carried, driven and controlled for purposes of elevation and stoppage at any predetermined level for each platform.

The invention also has in view to provide a system of such "units, of any desired or racticable height, within a building having ateral entrance and exit, on a ground level,

together with various other incidental features of construction and operation as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, showing certain preferred embodiments of the invention,

- end of the platform su porting hangers;

Fig. 5 is a view in e ovation showing one of-the supporting units, partly in section;

Fig. 6 1s a similar view showing a modified construction; v

Fig. 7 is a, detail view showing the con trolling lock for the suspended turntable of Fi ea %ig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the aide for the chain impelled supporting mem ers; and

vmechanism Fig. 1 is a general-plan view, showing a Fig. 9 is a detail view of a lock for the carrylng chain.

In carrying out the invention, I provide one or a series of units A, B, C, D, etc., arranged side by side within a building E havlng entrance and exit door openings 6 in alinement with a driveway or alley f. The drlveway is preferably of just suflicient width to allow. clearance for a single car and a limited degree of turnin on to or off from one of the supporting p atforms.

Said platforms 2 are of any suitable construction for strength and; rigidity, preferably rectangular" in form, supported at each end by hangers 3, 3, from a cross rod or bar 4:. .The outer terminals of bar 4 extend through and form the connecting pin of sprocket links 5 of chains 6, 6, at each side, which in turn pass over and are supported and driven b head sprocket wheels 7, 7, and pass aroun similar bottom or tail sprocket wheels 8, 8, as in Fig. 2. Wheels 7, 7 and 8-, 8 are spaced apart, as shown, for sufiicient clearance and lateral separation of the several platforms 2, with their loads in passing over'from one to the other of either pair of s rocket wheels 7,7, or 8, 8,

as will be readi y understood. a

In this manner, each unit comprises twO vertically arranged tiers of platforms, continuously connected and en ported by their chains, and movable up an down in opposite directions by means of the actuating rovided.

The sproc et wheels are carried on the inner ends of stud shafts 9 carried in suitablebearings 10, avoidin the use of contin uous cross shafts for the upper sprocket wheels, so as .to leave intervening clearance for the passage of the platform han rs at the top and of the platforms themse ves at the bottom. One pairof the head sprocket wheels? is positively driven by a suitably Jcontrolled motor 11 through shaft 12 and gearing 13, 14:, 15, '16, for each opposite sprocket 7, whereby they and the chains 6, 6, are actuated together, and stopped and started at the proper time. 1

Each platform 2 is supported by the hangers 3, 3, at each opposite end from the pair of chains 6, and is preferably provided with a centrally arranged turntable 17. The turntable is mounted for easy turning on the platform bymeans of a central pivoting bolt 18 and an annular row of ball or roller bearings 19. The turntable is adapted to be locked against accidental movement by means of a latch engaging one of a'series of peripheral notches 21, saidlatch form- Y the hangers are vertically slotte' as at 23,

and a strong stifi spiral spring 24 is interposed between the upper end 0 the slot and the bar, adapted to support the weight of the platform and its contents .with a limited de of resiliency. The purpose of such -c 'oning is to avoid sudden jarring or strains on the latform and. the supporting chains, especia y in loading. As a further compensating and reinforcing'precaution, I

.. provide .for' a temporary 1 support of each platform by means of a plunger 25 having a supporting head 26 adapte to be raised by admission of fluid pressure to cyl-.

inder 27 through a valve controlled pressure pipe 28.

su l iic supporting mechanism is located below the receiving and deliveri position of each platform when at the oor level of alley way. f, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. When the platform and its turntable are in receiving or delivering position and at the same level with the floor, as shown, the

lunger is raised below the platform, lift- .mg it slightly or providing a solid bearing, during which time a car may be run on or off. Thereafter, the plunger is lowered out of the way, the elevating mechanism is started, the platform is raised or lowered one space, bringing. the next empty latform into position as in charging. en it is desired to unload any particular car, it is brou ht back to the floor level and stopped, .and t e car is run of, such opera-- tion being repeated as frequently as it is necessary to either load or unload. As will be obvious, either an empty. platform or a loaded one may be brought to the floor level through the. shortest travel by operating the motor forwardl or backwardly.

In Fig. 6, L s ow a modified construction of support in which the platform 2 is rigidly'carried by the hangers 3' from the upper cross bar or frame29. Said frame in turn is givotally connected by a central bolt 18 an any suitable turntable silipport, as a gepending disk 30, having ro er bearings 1 32 0 per frame 29 rests. ysuch means, the lat cm 2 may be rotated to any desire degree.

. A locking latch 20 is pivotally mounted on frame29, east 32', and connected b cables 38. anv operating lever 34, by whic upon.- which a co-acting siipporting plate up the latch 20 may be thrust upwardly into locking e ment with bar 4" for holding the pat orm against rotation, or released for rotation, as desired.

While ordinarily the sprocket gearin will securely. hold the chains against acci ental movement, due to overbalance at one side or for. any other reason, I ma provide an independent lock, such as is own in Fig. 9. nsuch case. a dog or dogs 37 of lever 38 may be thrown temporarily between the links 5 of chains 6, so as to positivel hold the chains against movement, until re eased.

. When one unit asthus constructed, or a series of'suchunits, is located as in Fig.

1' within a buildin individual cars may be run along the a e ay f at either side, and on to any particu ar latform of either unit. Depending upon t e height of the structure the capaeit of each unit may vary within wide limits, and thereb provide for the storage of a la num of cars within a com aratively imited .space as to area. The height of each platform as to its head clearance maybe he at a minimum so as to utilize the vertical to the best advantage, and provide maximum capacity of cars within any given height. The platform 2 may be properly numbered so as to be utilized in connection with any suitable checking system, rendering it easy tovery 'uickly rin to the loading or unloading oor level t e particular platform desired.

For the purpose of guiding the platforms and maintaining them in vertical alinement at all times, and avoiding any swaying tendency, vertical ides, as channels 39, are preferably located yond the chains at each side and eachcross bar 4 extends inwardly between the flanges of such channel, preferably with a roller 35, as in Fig. 8. If desired, two such rollers may be utilized, one on the bar and a lower one on the hang.- er as in Fig. 5, so as to more securely maintain the vertical alignin travel of the'platforms at all times. The inner flange of such channel. is cut out as at 36. for lateral clearance of such rollers or guiding abutments at suitable locations, providing for lateral movement of the chain 6 at the top and bottom.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by all those familiar with the problem of automobile stora (The facility in handling a large num r of cars within a minimum space and without confusion and obstruct1on, is a feature of especial advantage and economy.

It will be understood that the a paratus may be variously changed or m 6 in different details of construction, size, a aptability to varying weights and designs of ortrucks to suit local cmditions or or the Ill demands of existing trafiic, but all such changes are to be considered as within the sco e of the following claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In a storage system for motor vehicles, the combination with an enclosing building, of a series of continuously connected movable platforms comprising two main vertically arranged oppositely traveling tiers spaced apart for clearance at top and bottom and with clearance space between them and the building walls for vehicle movement, and means for continuously supporting and moving all of the platforms together, and means for independently supporting individual platforms" at the floor level.

2. In a storage system for motor vehicles, the combination with an enclosing building, of a series of continuously connected movable platforms comprisin two main vertically arranged opposite y traveling tiers spaced apart for clearance at top and bottom and with clearance space between them and the building walls providing alleyways for vehicle movement, chains continuously supporting and pivotally connecting the several platforms in serial spaced relationship, spaced apart pairs of gears at top and bottom for supporting and actuating the chains and their supported platforms, and means for driving and controlling the gearing.

3. In a storage system for motor vehicles, the combination with an enclosing building, of a plurality of adjacent carrying and storage units each comprising a series of continuously connected movable platformsconsisting of two main vertically arranged oppositely traveling tiers spaced inwardly at the bottom from the building walls providing alleyways for vehicle movement, and means for continuously supporting and moving the platforms of each unit together, and means between each unit and said supporting means providing for independent relative movement of individual units.

4. The combination with an enclosing building having a floor and a sub-recess therein, and clearance space between the building walls and said recess at each side thereof, of a series of continuously connected movable platforms comprising two main vertically arranged oppositely traveling tiers s aced apart for *clearance space between a jacent platforms for a vehicle, means for continuously and flexibly supporting the platforms, and means for actuating the supporting means adapted to bring the several platforms into registering relation with the floor.

5. In elevating and storing mechanism,

the combination with a floor and a clearance pit, of a series of carrying platforms and supporting and actuating cha ns therefor adapted to move the several platforms individually into registering alinement with the floor, and vertically movable means for temporarily supportlng a platform at the floor level independent of its chains.

6. The combination with supporting chains and means for actuating them, of a series of platforms having supporting hangers pivotally connected with the chains and vertically movable means for temporarily supporting an individual platform independent of the chains;

7. The combination with supporting chains and means for actuating them, of a platform having supporting hangers at each end pivotally connected with the chains, and cushioning mechanism roviding for limited independent vertica movement of the hangers and platform.

8.- The combination with supporting chains and means for actuatin them, of a platform having supporting iangers at each end pivotally connected with the chains, cushioning mechanism providing for limited independent vertical movement of the hangers and platform, and a vertically adjustable supporting abutment for the platform adapted to support it temporarily and relieve the tension on the chains.

9. The combination with two supportin chains, of a platform pivotally connecte therewith at opposite sides'and provided with a turn-table, and independent elevating mechanism adapted to relieve the chains and temporarily support the platform and its load during rotation of the turntable.

10. The combination with two supporting chains, of a platform pivotally connected therewith at opposite sides and provided with a turn-table, and means for locking the turn-table against rotation, and independent elevating mechanism adapted to relieve the chains and temporarily support the platform and its load during rotation of the turntable.

11. In combination, avertically arranged framework provided with pairs of oppositely located vertically disposed guiding channels having lateral clearance openings, continuous supporting chains arranged in conformity with said channels, laterally spaced pairs of chain wheels therefor at top and bottom, means for actuating said wheels, and series of platforms pivotally connected with the chains and having guiding abutments beyond such pivotal connection engaging the channels, and supplemental gu1ding abutments on the platforms below and in vertical alinement with said abutments also engaging the channels.

12. In combination, a vertically arranged framework provided with pairs of o posi-tely located vertically disposed gui ing channels having lateral clearance openings,

chains arranged in channels laterally wheels therefor at for actuating said continuous supportin conformity with sai spaced pairs of chain to and bottom, means wheels, and series of platforms pivotally connected with the chains and havm cushioning mechanism providing for ited independent vertical movement of the platforms.

13. The combination with two supporting chains, of a supporting cross bar'pivotally connected therewith at opposite sides and having a middle dependin turntable supporting disk, and a plat orm having an upper cross member and disk rotatably chains,

mounted on said disk with intervening rolling bearings.

14. The combination with two supporting of a supporting cross bar pivotall connected therewith at opposite sides an having a middle depending turntable supporting disk, a platform havin an upper cross member and disk rotatabf mounted on said disk, and locking mechanism on the cross member of the p atform provided with an operating lever and adapted to en go the supporting cross bar.

testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

' ARTHUR A. BLUE. 

